"let's start it all over again!" the choreographer exclaimed, clapping his hands a few times before setting the good music on the radio. "ten, make sure to stay in the middle. and guys, don't hesitate to be energetic."

the choreographer received a few nods, and he pressed the play button, making the music start.

for the next minutes, the only sounds that could be heard were the high-pitched voice of the singer and the loud screeching of the dancers' shoes on the wooden floor of the dance room.

then, the music came to an end, making the loud pants of the dancers audible.

"that was better." the choreographer nodded. "you may have a drink, and then we'll repeat it one last time."

the group of dancers rushed to the benches, where all of them had left towels and water bottles.

"i heard that taeyong and you are participating in the talent show in a few months." one of the dancers came to sit next to ten.

"yeah." ten replied before gulping down some fresh water. "this has always been our dream. participating in a show."

"and somehow having your talent getting recognized." he added.

"sicheng, stop flattering me."

"i'm just pointing out the obvious. you have nothing to do in a dance school. your place is on a scene. you and taeyong." sicheng said very clearly.

"if you say so..." ten shrugged. 

the choreographer declared the water break finished, and so, ten, sicheng and the others got back into their positions to start dancing again.

they all did pretty well, managing to stay in rhythm with the music and perfectly synchronized, as if they were only one.

that's why they earned a big clap from their choreographer before he declared that their training could end a bit earlier than usual.

ten and sicheng happily walked to the changing rooms where ten had a shower before dressing in sweatpants and a shirt.

"you're waiting for taeyong?" sicheng asked while putting his hoodie on.

"yeah. his class finishes in 10 minutes." ten replied, checking the time on his phone.

"i can wait with you if you want."

ten smiled at his friend, nodding in approval.

the two dancers walked out of the dancing department to get to the recording studios. they waited a few minutes in front of the door before it opened, revealing a very happy taeyong.

"hey guys!" he beamed, embracing ten and sicheng in a hug. "you'll never guess what!"

"tell us." ten replied, almost as excited as his best friend.

"i finally managed to rap the song i had told you about! and if i continue making progress, we might even be able to perform it at the talent show if we don't find another song!"

"that's so cool!" ten jumped, cheering on taeyong.

"well done." sicheng patted his shoulder.

"what about you?" taeyong asked. "how was dancing."

"pretty tiring." ten replied.

"but we did good, so coach allowed us to leave twenty minutes before the end." sicheng completed.

"oh! that's why you're here this early!"

"yeah, and i'll need you to massage me tonight, my neck is sore." ten told, passing a hand over his neck.

"of course." taeyong smiled, ruffling the boy's hair and giving him a warm smile.

"just get together already..." sicheng rolled his eyes at such sweetness.

"we already had this conversation many times." ten replied.

"mixing love and work is- "

"never working well, i know." sicheng cut taeyong. "but you're in love and everybody can see that."

taeyong and ten had known each other for years.

they basically grew up together.

and with them growing up, they both started to develop mutual feelings.

at first friendship, a very strong bond. and then slowly, these platonic feelings became love.

they took four years to admit it to each other, and then, they decided that it would be best for them not to get together.

ten and taeyong had always had the same dream; becoming artists, taeyong a rapper, and ten a dancer. they wanted to perform together, and become famous. and they didn't want their relationship to get in the middle of their dream.

"staying best friends is what is best for us." ten concluded, looking at taeyong with heart eyes.

"whatever floats your boat then, but stop this, you're making me feel lonely." sicheng told.

"anyway, do you want to have a drink with us?" taeyong asked while the three boys walked towards the exit.

"sorry, but kun is coming to pick me up."

"aww isn't this adorable?" ten cooed, earning a light slap on the shoulder from his dance mate.

the three males walked out of the building side by side, laughing about life when a tall boy came running towards them.

"sicheng!" he yelled before throwing himself onto sicheng.

sicheng hurriedly caught the golden retriever in his arms.

"hello kun." sicheng said, rubbing his head against the dog's fur before putting him on the floor again.

the dog excitedly turned around, his tail wiggling from left to right.

"aww, what a good boy." ten cooed at the sight.

in the blink of an eye, the golden retriever morphed into a human figure with two fluffy ears on top of his head and a tail wiggling behind his back.

"my cute baby hybrid." sicheng pulled kun in a hug.

"seeing you together makes me want to have a hybrid as well..." taeyong smiled.

"get one then! i want a friend!" kun exclaimed, jumping around.

"that could be a good idea." ten smiled, ruffling the hybrid's hair.

the three boys and the hybrid spoke for a few minutes before parting ways.

sicheng and kun walked back home while ten and taeyong agreed to have a drink in a nearby café.

"so, you want a hybrid?" ten asked while they were walking in the direction of the café.

"i already told you plenty of times."

"i know. you would look absolutely hot as a father." ten giggled, imagining his best friend holding a small puppy hybrid in his arms.

"and then i'll have to deal with the two cutest creatures of the world." taeyong smiled, making ten flush.

they continued walking until they could see the café at the end of the street. but something else caught their eye.

a new shop had opened, a big panel on which was written 'hybrids & co' in glowing letters, with huge glass windows through which they could see baby hybrids in their animal form.

"tae?" ten asked, his eyes glued to the shop.

"yeah?" taeyong replied, as immersed as his best friend.

"you wanted a hybrid?"

"yes."

and so, their thirst got forgotten in a second.

"let's buy one."